When Robert the Bruce and his wife Elizabeth de Burgh were crowned King and Queen of the Scots on the 25th March 1306, she reportedly said “Alas, we are but king and queen of the May”. Robert had taken the crown against the might of the English, and their position was definitely an uncertain one. … Continue reading Royal Hostages
Tag: Scotland
The Maid of Norway
History is full of sliding doors moments, and when looking at medieval Scotland such a moment can be seen with the death of Margaret, the Maid of Norway. Margaret, the Maid of Norway in stained glass window at Lerwick Town Hall. Image courtesy of Colin Smith under the CC BY-SA 2.0 license. The young Norwegian … Continue reading The Maid of Norway
The Scottish Queen
Mary Queen of Scots. What new is there to say? She is one of the most well known historical figures in British history, and her dramatic life of passion and intrigue has enthralled people for centuries. Yet today I want to focus on a very specific moment in her early life, one that often gets … Continue reading The Scottish Queen
Scotland, Sainthood and a Saxon Princess
I recently went to Edinburgh on a city break, and whilst there naturally went to go and visit the imposing and impressive Edinburgh Castle, which sits high above the Old Town. As I looked around and read the guidebook I discovered St Margaret’s Chapel, and the fascinating woman it was founded for. Margaret (1046-1093) began … Continue reading Scotland, Sainthood and a Saxon Princess
Some Sources Say 